Gerard Butler's new film mirrors real-life conflicts on the Korean Peninsula

Friday, April 05, 2013 - 01:33

Actor says life imitates art in his new film ''Olympus has Fallen'' as tension rises between North and South Korea.

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STORY: As tension rises between North and South Korea, a new action film "Olympus Has Fallen" eerily mirrors the current political situation there on the big screen.
The movie, starring Gerald Butler, sees the White House attacked by a terrorist group from North Korea. They manage to successfully storm the iconic American building, and kidnap the president. And while politicians on the outside are trying to prevent a conflict happening around the Korean peninsula, a lone security officer, played by Butler, is inside the White House trying to despatch the terrorists and rescue the president.
"You always try and make a movie relevant with a backdrop of the climate, but we didn't realise quite how relevant our movie was going to become," said Butler, who also produced the film.
"What was going on between North Korea and South Korea and that movement and the naval exercises and pulling out the seventh fleet and the Americans confirming they were going to back Koreans at a time like this. These are actually scenes from our movie," he added.
Aaron Eckhart, who plays the US President in the movie, said the insight into White House operation has further put him off from pursuing a political career.
"Olympus Has Fallen" is out in the UK on April 17th.